This month I’m participating in the Classics Retold project. Find more info here!

Synopsis (Goodreads): After the death of his father, Odd’s life has been stuck in a downward spiral. However, his luck begins to change after he frees a trapped bear in the woods. Discovering that the bear is actually a Norse god, twelve-year-old Odd embarks on a perilous quest to save the other gods from evil frost giants.

My thoughts:

I’ve been making an effort to read more middle grade fiction, and the Classics Retold project offered the perfect opportunity. In fact, the two middle grade books are my favorite of all the titles I read while exploring Norse mythology!

I’m also getting a lot more of my reading in by listening, since I’m spending 3 hours in a car 4 days a week driving to my internship at a high school library. Audiobooks are hit or miss with me; it all depends on the narrator. I’ve quickly learned that I am generally of fan of authors who read their own works. And I hadn’t yet read this delightful story by Neil Gaiman. It’s a winner!

At just an hour and a half, this is a great read for a beginning audiobook reader or to listen on a family trip. Neil Gaiman does great voices and brings the characters to life, and this story of mythological fairy tale structure is ideal for reading aloud.

Odd is a bit of an outcast. His father died and he injured his leg. When he ventures from his village he encounters three gods in the form of an eagle, a fox, and a bear, and they enlist him to help defeat the Frost Giant so they can return to their given form.

The language is enchanting and lends a rhythym to the story that is well-suited for reading aloud. I highly recommend this to readers looking to explore fiction for younger readers or try out a short audiobook.

I’m busier than I expected with work, school, and my internship, but I hope to have time to get a couple more reviews for Classics Retold before the end of the month!